Valve-actuating mechanism



Dec. 111 1923. I EATYAEQ AuG. BERTRAM VALVE ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Aug; 14. 1922 A TTOR/VE Y8 Patented Dec. ll, 1923..

uneven stares AUGUST G. BERTRAJVJI OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VALVE-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

Application filed August 14, 1922. Serial No. 581,716.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUoUs'r G. Bnirrnniii, a citizen oi the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of lilanl'iattan in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved ValveA.ctuating Mechanism, of which the following is a :Eull clear and exact description.

This invention'relates to a valve actuating mechanism, and has for an object the provision of means whereby fluid valves, such as those used in modern plumbing, may be very easily operated without the use of cumbersome, large projecting heads and valves extending from the surface of the walls and accessories within the room, such as a bath-room.

Another object resides in the provision of means whereby the valve can be very easily operated by simply pushing a button disposed in the wall.

A further object resides in the provision of means whereby the valve is opened by merely pushing the button and is also closed in as easy a manner.

A still further object resides in the particular construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings, of which- Figure l is a section through a bathtub showing the disposition of the buttons above the head of the tub in the wall.

Fig. 2 is a partial, vertical section taken through the device and the valve, showing the valve closed.

Fig. 3 is a. similar view showing the valve open.

Fig. 4. is a section taken on the line 44: of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 25.

able, carrying on one end a alive 5, the other end 6 of the stem connected to a head portion 7 adapted to be depressed by the hand or finger in a manner hereinafter to be described. Intermediate the handle of the stem of the valve, a portion of considerably re duced diameter is provided which forms at its ends with the main portion of the stem shoulders 9 and 10. Along this portion of reduced diameter a sleevell is adapted to move, said sleeve at one end having a flange 12 extending outward at right angles thereto. Surrounding the stem 6 along a certain portion is a sleeve 13 fastened at one end to the bottom of a casing 14; which may be attached to any suitable support, such as the rear of the wall on which the depressible member or button 7 is disposed; A spring 15 surrounds the stem. 6 within the sleeve 15 and bears against the shoulder thereof, tending to force the stem in a direction to close the valve 5.

Adajacent one end of the sleeve 13, I

fingers 16 are engaged in the notches. These fingers 16 are held forward against the stem 6 by any suitable means, such as leaf springs 18 disposed within the casing 14- and having one end bearing against the fingers 16. The outer end of the stem 6 is provided with a cuplike sleeve 19 extending into an aperture in the wall 20 and adapted to be depressed. by the finger. The casing 141. is carried on the plate 21 fastened to the wall 20 by any suitable means suchv as screws 22. The plate 21 is also provided with cylindrical flange portion 21 within which the ends 7 of the stem 6 slide and which is embraced by the sleeve 19 forming a sort of bearing therefor.

In the operation of the device, assuming the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2, it a person desires to start the flow of water, the finger is pressed against the sleeve 19, which moves the stem 6 to the left. A sutficient movement will cause the engagement of thefingers 16-with1,,.the.first set of notches 18. 1 These fingers-will. beheld ing the notches by springs 18. A retraction of the stem 6, due to the ,forceof the. spring 15, is provided bythis engagement. The

bl the stem to disen a etthe fin ers from 9 U 1 i D the notchesafter thestem hasbeen moved a predetermined distance.

....2.,A valve; actuating mechanism which includes a stem having a plurality of notches valve is now unseated to a,-slight degree,- therein,;- --latehing fingers adapted to en- A further depression of the stem will cause the engagement vofg-the fingers 146 withanother set of notche further along the stem to cause 1 the valve to be further. opent a certain pointin the travel of the stem,..the shoulder 10 engages'the sleeve 11.: and forces it tolthe left. lhelsleevez 11 willmturning; it to normal position 'whenwthe I move tothe 19ft Untlhbhflflfillgt 12:.thereon" rubswith-any desired uforce. against lShBylTl nerfaceot the finger 16. "These-fingers 16 are. disposed M an-angle toithestein 6; so:v

that asthe' sleeve. ii is moved further-to the left,; the flange 12thereon tends torspreadthe fingers 16..against the. action .otwthei;

springs '18 therebyn causing the disengage-1. mentofthe ends 17 of the fingers lti .i'romfl a the notches l8. As. soonas this release OIK by the-valve 5 is closed. As the stem moves.

' disengagement takes placey theuspring 15 I by-thefiange; on the .sleeverwhen the;v stem .1has. been..:depressed beyond acertainpoint forcesthe stem entirely to the right, where tothe right, theshoulder 9 will engage with the: sleeve 11 and move it to? the right, 'releasing it from contact withthe fingers '16.,-

. stem 6 should be again depressed.

-=QIGGU$O cause the Water to flow it isms/rely..- necessary to deprcss the button or sleeve 19 release'the-device and-shutroffthe water, it isnierely necessary to further-depress the This release isnecessary because: tlie-pres-?.'

sure of the springs l8 on the-fingers 16 will .cause the sleeve "lite be. .inaintained the ends '17 of the fingerslG arenot in a condition to reengage-ithe notches rifthew It will, therefore, 'bQfObSQYVHVbIGL KEhaJt ina-desii-ed :amoun, the stem 6 being automatically held 111 the desired position. .To

button portion and then quickly release it,

jivhereuponithe button will return to normalipositio'n andthe valve 5 will be closed :VVhat l claimiiisze 1: A valve actuting mechanism which ineludes a stern having aplurality of notches therein, latching fingers adapted to engage in the notches and i'cstrainthe movement of the stem in one direction, and-means carried gage in the notches and restrain the move inent-nof ,the stem in one direction, means carried by the stem to disengage the fingers from the notches afteruthe .SiEGIIl-dilSwbGQIl moved predetermineddistance, and resilient. means engaging the stem and relatching means has been disengaged :inom the -notches.

A valve: actuating mechanism which vincludes avalvestem having a plurality of notches therein, latching fingers adapted to engage ini said notches, springs. bearing againsttheI-fingers {1051311635 them forward .intoisaid notches:as-the'stein isiinoved, a sleeve'aslidable on said stem, a-tflangemn said sleeve, the latching -1 fingers inclined withwrespect to each other andengageahle whereby the fingers are moved byithe .fla-nge to be disengaged from thecnotches'," and a spring. engaging-thestem to force thesstem back. .to i normal .7 position when the fingers have been disengaged. i

4: A valve actuating mechanism which includes a valvestein having a plurality of notches; therein,latching= finger adapted to engage in said notches, springsnbearing againstthe fingers topressz themv forward intosaid'notches.asmthehstem.is moved, a uSlQGVG ShdZ'LblG on-sa1d stem, a ufiangeq on said: sleeve, :the ilatcl'iingz fingersai-nclined with respect to each other andsengageable by the flange on -the sleeve when the stem has been depressed beyond a-certaiii-point wherebythe. fingers are moved zbyzthe flange to bedisengaged from thenotches, a spring engaging the stem to force'the SiX-BIIDbEtCk to normaliposition when the fingers have been disengaged, and a s-shoulder:on;said-. stem engageable' with the sleeve. onziits return movement to force'thei sleeve back to nor-.

mal position, whereby the flangerofithe sleeve is disengaged-from-thefingers to permit them to return to normal position.

An'siis'r e. BER-TEAM. 

